Norfolk Southern sets port coal-loading record

Norfolk Southern says it loaded a record amount of coal into a single ocean-going vessel on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, at Pier 6 at Lamberts Point, Port of Hampton Roads, Va.

The Class I railroad loaded 166,840 net tons, or 151,346 metric tons, of metallurgical coal into the 984-foot M/V China Pioneer, which sailed for Liuahou Iron and Steel in China (via Trinidad). The coal was shipped by Integrity Coal Sales International by rail in 1,561 coal cars.

NS says the amount was a record for both Pier 6 and for the entire Port of Hampton Roads. The previous NS record on Pier 6 occurred last Jan. 12, with 159,941.45 net tons loaded into the M/V Cape Dover. The previous Port of Hampton Roads record was set on Feb. 9, 1992, with 163,765 net tons loaded onto a single vessel.

Pier 6 notched its 50th birthday Wednesday, Sept. 18. “The fact that this new record comes at Pier 6’s 50th birthday is a big exclamation point,” said NS Group Vice President, Export, Metallurgical, and Industrial Coal Marketing Mark H. Bower. “It again demonstrates that NS and our production and sales partners are the experienced, safe, and reliable team for getting American coal to the world’s utilities and coke plants.”